Has the Pac-12 Networks backfired for the conference? It’s an idea explored by college sports reporter Jon Wilner, who on Wednesday published a piece in the Mercury News that examined the true cost of the Pac-12’s 100-percent owned networks.
The conference launched it’s own network without a broadcast partner in 2012. At the time, the idea was intriguing to university presidents and chancellors, who were reportedly told they could expect annual payouts of up to $10 million per school. As uncovered by Wilner, though, the actual revenue is closer to $1-$2 million annually.
The Pac-12 Networks also suffer from a lack of exposure thanks to that same business model.